Striving for quality use of medicines: how effective is Australia's ban on direct-to-consumer prescription medicine advertising?

The potential for both positive and negative effects arising from direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription medicines challenges health policymakers to develop regulatory schemes which selectively capture the positive aspects of the practice. Australia has dealt with this quandary by banning the practice, while New Zealand and the United States permit it. However, in recent times pharmaceutical companies have been increasingly successful in introducing promotional materials into the Australian market.

Commercialisation of regenerative human tissue: regulation and reform in Australia and England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The commercialisation of therapeutic products containing regenerative human tissue is regulated by the common law, statute and ethical guidelines in Australia and England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This article examines the regulatory regimes in these jurisdictions and considers whether reform is required to both support scientific research and ensure conformity with modern social views on medical research and the use of human tissue. The authors consider the crucial role of informed consent in striking the balance between the interests of researchers and the interests of the public.

The evolution of integrated passive components in medical devices.

As well as being space saving, integrated passive components offer other opportunities for medical device applications. This article examines their advantages and looks at what the future holds.